Calcite seeded growth experiments

Extensive seeded calclte growth experiments in the presence of phosphate ion indicate that the phosphate ion adsorbs onto the crystal surface as a monolayer. At a concentration of 10" M, phosphate ion can strongly inhibit calcite formation however, short term experiments show that this monolayer adsorption removes insignificant amounts of phosphorus from solution. In experiments lasting several days a further decrease in solution phosphate concentration occurs, presumably caused by nucleation of a surface calcium phosphate phase on the calcite seed. 

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